Firework sales in Great Lakes Bay Region vary in Michigan's pioneer year of legality

Stores and stands selling newly legalized fireworks popped up throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region in the weeks leading up
to Independence Day, with operators hoping for booming profits.

This is the first Fourth of July season under the Michigan
Firework Safety Act, which went into effect in January 2012. The law permits
the sale and use of consumer grade fireworks in the state.

Businesses big and small are trying to capitalize on the new
law during this holiday season by opening storefronts and sales tents, but are
experiencing mixed results.

Joel Berin operates a Phantom Fireworks tent for Stardust
Lanes, 3750 Bay in Saginaw Township. He said business has been steady since he
first started selling on June 26, but overall the it's not exactly what he
expected.

The Stardust Lanes ownership is working in conjunction with
Phantom Fireworks, an Ohio-based fireworks company, Berin said, who does not
own the bowling alley.

Many customers were put off by the prices of the fireworks,
he said, add that some also were disappointed that certain explosives such as
cherry bombs and M-80s, which are not legal under the new law, were not for
sale.

"Some people are walking in, seeing the prices and walking
right back out," he said.

Less than a mile down the road, Bay City resident Ron
Robinson said his experience has been more positive.

Since setting up shop for Big Fireworks in the parking lot
of the Fashion Corner Complex on Bay Road on June 22, Robinson said he's had to
restock his firework stand twice and had a number of repeat customers.

"No complaints about our products or nothing, we've had a
lot of return customers," he said. "The Mini Magnum, it's $5, a guy bought one
and he's been back like four times buying five, six at a time."

Robinson said he thinks his stand was more successful than
some of his competitors because his prices are lower. Big Fireworks, a
Lansing-based wholesale supplier, is able to cut out the middle man and provide
the product directly to customers at a lower price, he said.

Dozens of municipalities throughout the state passed ordinances banning the use of
fireworks outside of the day before, day of and day after the 10
state-designated holidays in recent weeks, including Saginaw and Midland, with a
Bay City ordinance likely forthcoming.

Many firework use restrictions kick back in on
July 6, lasting until the next holiday period, which starts Sept. 2, the day
before Labor Day.

Both Bay Road stands will pack up and leave town shortly
after the holiday, but owners of brick and mortar establishes such as Extreme
Pyro Fireworks, 3762 Wilder in Bay City, will have to decide whether they want
to remain open or close up shop.

Extreme Pyro Fireworks owner Scott Miller said he plans on
remaining open for the rest of the summer but in September he plans on scaling
back to two or three days a week.

Miller said business is not quite what he expected but he
said he thinks the Michigan Firework Safety Act will prove to be successful for
the state, bringing in more money in sales tax as well as from an additional 6
percent Fireworks Safety tax that finances the operations of the Bureau of Fire
Safety as well as firefighter training.

"There's more good coming out of this than anything because
the state needs the money right now," he said. "The revenue that's coming in
for the state is good."

But Miller said much of the public's
interest in fireworks is because of the law's novelty. He said he expects
business to drop off within a few years.

"I believe it's a fad. Very shortly
it will go away," he said. "People are just so excited; nobody has to look over
their shoulder right now. It's a lot of fun for everybody because it's new, but
I believe it will peter right down to nothing.

Mark Schramke is more optimistic.

The owner of Nigh Flight
Fireworks, 6560 Dixie Highway in Bridgeport, said he plans on keeping his store
open year round.

Night Flight Fireworks, which was
bustling with customers Tuesday afternoon, is less than a mile from exit 144 on
I-75. Schramke said his business's close proximity to the freeway has made it a
hot spot for travelers.

"We pick up a lot of the Up North
traffic and people coming home," he said.